World-ranked snowboarder Carl Murphy (33), of Lake Hawea, has a Paralympic gold medal in his sights.
The International Paralympic Committee has announced his sport has been included in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Russia.
Murphy is ranked second in the world in adaptive snowboard cross and is regarded by coach Adam Dooney, of Wanaka, as a gold medal prospect.
He is already a member of the New Zealand snowboard team and has long dreamed of competing at Paralympic level.
"This is such good news for para-snowboarding as a whole," Dooney said.
"I am most excited for our riders. Paralympics New Zealand could send at least two riders to this event and with Carl currently ranked second in the world, we have a real shot at gold for New Zealand."
Murphy said the announcement "means everything to me".
"It has been my lifelong dream to compete in the Paralympic Games and represent New Zealand at the highest level," he said.
"I started competing five years ago and I am now No 2 in the world. I have no doubt I am capable of achieving gold in 2014.
"I know it's going to be very tough, with the high level of riders coming through the ranks, but I am confident with where I am now and will be working full steam ahead over the next 22 months to get myself into a position where I will be a realistic medal chance for the Sochi Games."
Murphy was second at the world championships and fourth at the X-Games in North America earlier this year.
He works as a draughtsman and trains almost fulltime at Cardrona Alpine Resort in the winters.
"It is always a bit of a balance.
"Being a disabled snowboarder, there is not a lot of funding. You still have to work. I train three or four mornings a week and work in the afternoons."
Murphy is a below-the-knee amputee and uses a prosthetic.
He was born with a congenital defect in his right leg, resulting in the removal of his lower limb.
New Zealand representatives on the World Snowboard Federation committee have long lobbied for the inclusion of snowboarding as a Paralympic sport.
Wanaka hosted the world para-snowboard championships in 2009 and a world cup event during the Winter Games last year.
